“No.”
“I’ll text her and see if she’s okay. It’ll be nothing.”
Mark came back “Silly old fool is on his way out and couldn’t finds his keys. Guess that’s me off the hook for a few hours. Hey, do you guys fancy a bite to eat? Catch up?”
Rosie’s heart gave a stuttering grind at the suggestion. And she squeezed William’s hand. Not that she begrudged William from having friends, but it was meant to be the both of them, alone, away from people, spending time together before she went to work, and he had to battle the witch alone.
“We’d love to, but we’re just out for lunch now. Rosie has work. We’re free on the weekend, though. Right?”
No. No they weren’t. She didn’t say that. Her selfish brain wanted William to herself, but not just that, this Mark … he knew things about William, things maybe she didn’t want to hear? Women, other women … women before her. Women who’d rode on his bike perhaps, come out here. Suddenly she felt sick again. Her stomach twisting into jealous knots. “I’m working Saturday afternoon. But other than that.”
“Brilliant,” Mark said. He fished inside his pocket and pulled out a card. Mark Hampson, it said. “My number’s here. Give me a call and we’ll sort it out. I can tell you a secret or two about your William here.” Another wink, as he patted William on the back of the shoulder, before heading back to his car, and leaving them the hell alone.